Point of View

The novel is narrated in the third-person, always from the perspective of Liz Lighty. Liz is a young Black girl who lives in Campbell, Indiana with her grandparents and younger brother. Liz is currently in her senior year of high school and preparing to go to college in the fall. Liz is queer and she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance as she tries to win her school’s prestigious prom queen competition for the lucrative scholarship it carries. Liz is consumed by loneliness and anxiety as she conceals from her family her bid for prom queen out of fear for her grandparents’ reaction. Leah Johnson does not place any limitations on the access to Liz’s inner thoughts, allowing the reader to understand her true motivations, fears, and conflicts.

Liz is rarely confrontational to avoid allowing herself to be hurt by others...